Billy Dukes

The big stars are out for awards season. New songs on the radio for April 2013 made their debut at the ACM Awards on April 7. Hunter Hayes and Luke Bryan were two singers to introduce new music, while Blake Shelton played his new one for the first time at the Las Vegas awards show. 

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Country heartthrobs like Luke Bryan and Jake Owen may not be the best looking members of their own family. Beauty finds beauty it seems, and this list of country music's hottest wives is confirmation. You already know what superstar spouses like Faith Hill and Miranda Lambert look like. These ladies are the lesser-known better halves of country music's top singers.

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What inspired 'Pioneer'? What's in store for their future? Talk about touring with Rascal Flatts ... These are all professional questions to ask a band like the Band Perry, a family trio that just found out their new album is atop the country album charts, with almost 130,000 copies sold it its debut week. Fans want the scoop though, and Neil, Kimberly and Reid were kind enough to dish it in an interview feature we call 60 Seconds With the Band Perry. 

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Granger Smith releases his ninth studio album next week (April 16) -- one he calls his most ambitious project to date. 'Dirt Road Driveway' features singles 'We Do It in a Field' and 'The Country Boy Song' in addition to 10 other tracks from the pen of the the Red Dirt singer-songwriter. Listen to the entire album early via this exclusive stream on Taste of Country.

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Lack of success in predicting the results of the 2013 ACM Awards can be attributed to tight competition... or maybe underestimating the strength and popularity of artists like Luke Bryan. Perhaps we're just making excuses for ourselves after a less-than-super success rate at Sunday's show. Taste of Country readers also made predictions, and it's time to see who fared better. 

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Luke Bryan's new song 'Crash My Party' would fit well on his last album 'Tailgates and Tanlines.' The ballad is a continuation of themes introduced with 'I Don't Want This Night to End' and 'Drunk on You,' two No. 1 hits for the ACM Entertainer of the Year. At first listen, it's difficult to become excited about a song that's so familiar. 

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It was another good night for Kellie Pickler and partner Derek Hough on 'Dancing With the Stars' on Monday night (April 9). The country singer did the Rumba to a song called 'Say I Do,' written and performed by husband Kyle Jacobs. One judge called the moment magical, while the others asked for more fluidity. 

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Scotty McCreery makes his songwriting debut on 'See You Tonight,' a mid-tempo love song that finds the 19-year-old not settling for a phone call or some distant "I love you" from the girl who holds his heart. It's the start of a new chapter for McCreery -- one that's much more important than his last. 

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Brad Paisley's 'Wheelhouse' delivers a familiar mix of humor, life lessons and scorching guitar solos, but it does it in a way different from any of the other eight albums the 'Beat This Summer' singer has released. He took his old formula, balled it up, lit it on fire and tossed the ashes in the garbage. The result is a meaty and ambitious project that doesn't always click, but clears new ground when it does.

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Willie Nelson's 80th birthday celebration begins with the release of a new album on April 16. The country music legend will reveal 'Let's Face the Music and Dance,' which you can listen to in full in advance with this online stream on Taste of Country.

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Stevie Wonder, John Mayer and John Fogerty were among those who made surprise guest appearances at the 2013 ACM Awards on Sunday (April 7). Perhaps more interesting, however, is who wasn't in attendance. Fans were left asking about a lack of screen time for three big country singers after Luke Bryan accepted Entertainer of the Year and credits rolled across the screen. 

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In his new song 'I Want Crazy.' Hunter Hayes doesn't soar like Ronnie Dunn or croon like Chris Young. His vocal performance is an exercise in diction -- and memory. Simply put, he packs a ton of words into a tight space without straining or slurring one idea into another. It's not easy. 

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